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Smash attacks inputted with the C-stick are performed one frame slower than the fastest possible, though this has little to no effect on its usefulness. If one presses a grab button right after the player tilts the stick, they can charge the smash attack. It is also possible to charge a smash attack by pressing an attack button when tilting the C-stick, in the same manner the player would if they were using the Control Stick, or in Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, by simply holding the C-stick in the direction it was tilted. The C-stick can also be used to perform aerial attacks, in which case the attack will be performed in the direction the C-stick is tilted, allowing the player to do an aerial while moving in another direction without losing momentum, such as a back aerial or up aerial while moving forward. In all games, the C-stick can substitute the Control stick in some instances, as it can be used to roll or sidestep out of shield, determine the direction of a tech, and aid in directional influence (both DI and SDI). The C-stick is additionally notable as the means to perform a DACUS in Brawl and other advanced techniques.

In Melee's single player modes, the C-stick can be used to change the zoom distance of the camera, by tilting it up to zoom in and down to zoom out. This is essentially pointless, as the camera control cannot do much other than restrict the player's view, and players fond of using the C-Stick to attack will find themselves instead taking no action.

From Brawl onward, functions that can be assigned to the C-stick are:

Smash: (Default) Smash attack short cuts, just like in Melee. In SSB4 and Ultimate, holding the stick also allows to charge the smash attack.

Grab: Tilt the stick to grab. After grabbing a foe, tilting it again produces pummels. The direction in which the player tilts the stick does not affect grabbing or pummeling.

Shield: Tilt the stick to put up the character's shield, and release it to drop the shield. Not affected by the direction the stick is tilted. Can also be used to air dodge.

Jump: Tilt the stick to jump. Not affected by the direction the stick is tilted.

Special: Tilt the stick to do the special that corresponds to that direction. This is known as B-sticking. Tilting the stick in one horizontal direction while holding the control stick in the other causes wavebouncing. In addition, tilting the stick diagonally allows a neutral special, though the angle required for this is very strict.

Attack: Shortcuts to tilt attacks, and aerial attacks just like with the Smash function when in midair. In Brawl, tilting the stick in the direction opposite the player is facing will cause the character to do a neutral attack, whereas in SSB4 and Ultimate, the fighter will turn around and attack with their forward tilt. Known as A-sticking. In Brawl and SSB4, tilting the C-stick in a diagonal angle produces neutral attacks on the ground and neutral aerials in midair, with a wider angle than that do to neutral specials with the Special function: as such, this function also enables players to use neutral aerials without losing momentum.

Dash attack: While dashing, tilting the C-stick in any direction (or only in the direction the fighter is facing in Ultimate) produces a dash attack, allowing to use it immediately after dashing, instead of the forward smash produced by the A Button.

Using the C-Stick, the player is able to move through the air in one direction, but input their aerial attack in another direction. For example, a player could move right, but their attack could be inputted so its hitboxes are on the left side.

Smash directional influence can be performed by using both the Control Stick and the C-Stick. By using both joysticks together, the player can SDI at a much farther distance than possible with just one stick.

Using the Control Stick to perform a forward aerial or back aerial will result in the player moving slightly in the direction inputted. However, the C-Stick does not require a direction on the Control Stick to attack with an aerial, so when used with the C-Stick, the player will not move horizontally. This is good for countering approaches. In Ultimate, however, aerial attacks inputted with the C-Stick, regardless of control scheme, cause slight horizontal momentum changes.

In Brawl, the C-Stick can be used to perform up tilts, down tilts, and special moves, even when the C-Stick is set to Smash. The player must simultaneously press the direction on the C-Stick and the Control Stick, special move button, or shield button.

Back in Melee's early tournament years, the C-stick was contemptuously called the "cheap stick" since it made it much easier for players to use aerial attacks, especially with Marth, which led to a negative image of him due to his overreliance on them.

In SSB4, if the C-stick is set to Smash, it inputs a move until it is returned to neutral position. This allows smash attacks to be charged, but prevents any other move from being inputted and removes aerial momentum when using aerials until the C-stick is released. This does not happen with the C-stick set to Attack, because every input is only registered for a single frame. This issue was fixed in Ultimate.